Want to fly premium without the premium price? Discover 3 smart strategies to score cheap or even free upgrades on flights.
Learn how to bag a bargain Premium or Business class tickets without needing Frequent Flier status.
Contents
- Want to Fly Premium Without the Premium Price?
- The Three Main Ways to Snag Cheap Premium Flights
- 1. Error Fares
- Follow Deal-Finding Sites like Secret Flying
- Join Jack’s Flight Club (Premium Membership Recommended)
- Set Price Alerts on Google Flights
- Use ChatGPT to Research Route-Specific Hacks
- Cons of Error Fares
- 2. British Airways Companion Voucher
- What They Are
- Cons of Avios Companion Flight
- 3. Use Points for Premium Upgrades
- How to Use Avios Points to Upgrade
- BA Rules For Upgrades
- Cons of Using Points to Get Cheap Upgrades on Flights
- Your Next Steps to Find Cheap Upgrades on Flights
Want to Fly Premium Without the Premium Price?
Fancy more leg room, better food and a quieter cabin without paying thousands?
In this guide I share 3 clever ways savvy travellers get premium or business class tickets at economy-level prices (or close).
You’ll learn how to spot an error fare, how to get companion seat using BA Avios, and how to use points to upgrade – even if you’re not a frequent flier.
The Three Main Ways to Snag Cheap Premium Flights
1. Error Fares
This is when an airline accidentally release seats at a much lower price than intended. Error Fares are rare but every now and then they happen. They get noticed and changed quickly.
These are the 3 main ways you can find out about them:
1. Follow Deal-Finding Sites like Secret Flying
Secret Flying is an information website that alerts its users about cheap airline tickets. The cheap flight deals take you to their affiliate links on Skyscanner and you can book the flights through the airline link.
They often advertise error fares on their Facebook page. Deals can disappear fast, so be ready to book.
🌟 Tip: Sign up for alerts or follow their social media for real-time updates.
2. Join Jack’s Flight Club (Premium Membership Recommended)
Jack’s Flight Club is a UK-based flight deal newsletter. They send you cheap flight alerts for your preferred airports and destinations – with regular business class error fares.
They have a whole team using Google Flights to track thousands of flights.
🌟 Tip: Premium membership unlocks more deals and early access.
👉 Sign up with my referral link for a sweet discount
3. Set Price Alerts on Google Flights
🌟 How to set up price alerts on Google Flights for business/first class routes.
- Go to Google Flights
- Enter your routes and dates (or keep them flexible)
- Click on the ‘Cabin Class’ drop down – Choose ‘Business’
- Click on the ‘Track Prices’ toggle (below the date picker)
- You’ll get email alerts only for business class flights on your route.
⚠️ Google won’t tell you which fares are ‘error fares’ but if the price is usually £2,000 and it has dropped to £600 that’s your clue!
4. Use ChatGPT to Research Route-Specific Hacks
- Prompt ChatGPT to find cheapest premium options on a specific route.
- Ask it to monitor deal forums (e.g. FlyerTalk) or convert reward programs to compare value.
- You’ll need ChatGPT Plus to monitor forums.
Cons of Error Fares
The problem with waiting for an error fare is that it only works if you can be flexible. Error Fares are rare!
2. British Airways Companion Voucher
What They Are
The BA Companion Voucher from the British Airways American Express card lets you book two reward seats for the Avios cost of one.
- Flights must be booked via BA using Avios.
- Only available on BA operated flights.
- To be able to get Club World (Business Class) flights with this method you have to be a Premium Plus Amex card holder.
Cons of Avios Companion Flight
- To be a Premium Amex card holder there is a yearly fee.
- Reward flights are released 355 days in advance so it’s not very flexible.
- Limited availabilty on popular routes.
- Vouchers expire after 24 months.
3. Use Points for Premium Upgrades
Different airlines have membership and loyalty reward systems, where you can use points for cheap upgrades on flights.
Amex has 18 Airline partners, with which membership points can be transferred including British Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines.
How to Use Avios Points to Upgrade
Avios is the most beginner friendly and flexible within Oneworld.
This is how you can get upgrades using Avios points with British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines flights.
You can upgrade your flight with Avios points at the time of booking or at a later date.
BA Rules For Upgrades
- You can only upgrade one cabin grade.
- You can only upgrade with Avios points if there is a Reward seat available in the next cabin.
If you want to upgrade with cash, this is always possible if there is a seat available.
⚠️Note: you will still need to pay extra taxes.
🌟 Tip: Use Rewardflightfinder.com to see what’s available or search for a seat like a new customer to see what’s available. Call BA direct to upgrade.
Cons of Using Points to Get Cheap Upgrades on Flights
It is only possible if there are Reward seats available in the next cabin up.
📂 Download Your Free Avios Airline Cheat Sheet👇
Your Next Steps to Find Cheap Upgrades on Flights
- Follow Secret Flying on Facebook
- Join Jack’s Flight Club with my
referral link - Start collecting Avios Points or equivalent with an Amex card.
⚠️T️ip: Always pay off your Amex balance in full every month to avoid interest – otherwise the perks won’t be worth it.
🔗Blog to read: How to Get Free or Low-Cost Airport Lounge Access
Make planning a trip yourself simple and stress-free with our ‘how to’ guides in the DIY Travel Planning Hub for tips on flights, accommodation, transport, itineraries and more – all in one place.
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